Hatch plug



Dec- 3 1940- c. D. BoNsALL i 2,224,117

HATCH PLUG Filed Feb. l5, 1940 2 SheetSSheet l Dec. 3, 1940. Q D BONSALL2,224,117

HATCH PLUG Filed Feb. 15, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Dec. 3, 1940Charles` David i Bonsall,

Chicago, Ill., assigner to' Standard Railway Equipment Manufacturing`Company, acorporation of Delaware Application February 15, 1940,SerialNo. 319,647

13 Claims.

My invention relatesto hatch plugs and particularly to hatch plugs ofthe kindthat are used for closing the hatchwaysl of refrigeratory cars.The principal objects of my invention are to devise a plug that will belight, that will have its insulating material adequately protectedagainst ingress of moisture, dirt. and other foreign matter, that willbesubstantially free from the injurious effects of warping, and which isso designed that partsthat` are subject to wear can be easily andrapidly replaced without removing the refrigerator carfrom its train.Theinvention consists principally in making the plug in the form of ahollow metal-container` lled with curing around its sides nailing stripsupon which suitable padding is nailed, the nailing strips beingpreferably detachably mounted. 'I'he invention also consists in theparts and` combinations of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer tolike parts wherever they occur, Fig. l is a` plan view, partly inhorizontal section, of ahatch plug embodying;y my invention,

Fig. 2 isa vertical section through the plug on the line 2 2 in Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a vertical section A the line 3 3 in Fig. 1, i i

Fig. 4 is an enlarged vertical section through marginal portion of theplug on the-line 4 4'in Fig. 1,

' Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal section on the line 5 5in Fig. 2,

Figs. 6, '7, 8 and 9 are views, similar to Fig. 4, showing fourmodicationsof the invention; and Fig, is a perspective View of thebottom strap shown in Fig. 9. i

In the construction illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5 of the accompanyingdrawings, the sideI walls of the hatch plug are'made in the form of ahollow rectangular frame A with rounded corners. 'This edge frame or rimis preferably made of a strip or strips of sheet metal pressed intochannel shape with its web portion I disposed vertically and'withoutturned flanges 2 and 3, respectively, at the top and bottom thereof.The bottom of the plug comprises a metal plate through the plug on 5,9 Bwhose margins overlap and are secured `iiatwise, preferably by an edgeweld 4 to the lower outturned liange 3 of the metal channel 'member thatconstitutes the side frame A. The vbody portion` of the metal bottomplate, B has hollow 4 depending ribs-5 pressed therein that extendirominsulating material and with provision for sei one side to theoppositelside of the side frame A and` serve to stiien and strengthensaid plate.

The chamber C. enclosed by the bottom plate B and edge frame A of thehatch plug is lled withV any suitable insulating material 6, such, 5 forinstance, as loosely packed or felted hair or vegetable bers. A metaltop or cover plate D, preferably stiiiened or strengthened by hollowupstanding ribs l therein, as in the' case of the v bottom plate B,bears flatwise against the top 10 flange 2 of the side frame A and isfastened thereto, preferably by an edge weld 8. The insulating material5 is thus sealed hermetically inside the metal shell formed by the edgeframe Aand the top and bottom closure plates of the 15 plug andconsequently is protected against the leakage of water or other liquidsand against the ingress of dirt and other foreign matter into theinsulation chamber C.

The metal body of the plug is smaller than the hatch openingv for whichit is designed, and its width and length are increased to t said openingby means of a wooden filler strip E mounted between the upper and lowerflanges of the side frame A to which is tacked-suitable padding F. As`shown in the drawings, the filler strips E, the top and bottom flanges2 and 3 of the edge frame A and the top and bottom closure plate D and Bare all disposed with their outer edges in flush alineinent. The fillerstrips E are secured by means of through belts 9 that extend downwardlythrough said filler strip and the top and bottom marginal portions ofthe metal body; that is, through registering openings provided thereforin the marginal portion of the top D, the upper ange 2 of the side frameA, said filler strip, the lower ange 3 of said side frame and the marginof the bottom B, said bolts having nuts lll screwthreaded on their lowerends. As shown in the drawings, the filler strip E is made up of endwiseabutting side andcorner sections or blocks II and l2, respectively.Thus, the filler strip sections are easily separately removable from themetal body of the plug by removing the securing bolts therefor.

The filler strip E serves as a nailing strip for the padding F. Thispadding comprises a strip or strips I3 of waterproof canvas throughwhose lower margin brads or small barbed galvanized roofing nails I 4 orlike fasteners are driven into the lower portion of the ller blocks.Curled hair or other suitable packing material l5 is iilled in betweenthe canvas strip I3 and the face of the viiller strip'E and then theupper margin of the canvas strip is secured to the upper portion of saidller or nailing strip by fasteners similar to fasteners I4 for the lowermargin of said canvas strip.

The hatch plug construction hereinbefore described has numerousadvantages. In the first place, it is considerably lighter than thewooden plugs commonly used. Its entire body portion, including theinsulation, is permanently assembled, while those parts that areespecially subject to wear and injury are easily replaceable withoutdisturbing the body of the plug. Such repairs and replacements are sosimple that they may be made while the car is at a regular icing stationand without requiring the removal of the car from its train and withlittle or no delay of the train. As the top of the plug is welded to thesides, the insulating material is kept dry and uncontaminated and alighter gage of metal may be used in the construction of the plug.Another advantage is that the wooden flller blocks afford greatprotection against injury by being struck by blocks of ice or otherrough usage and thus said filler blocks make it practicable to uselighter gage metal than would otherwise be feasible. While the fillerblocks are liable to take up moisture and warp, such warping does notaffect the metal frame and is inconsequential because the filler blockis not intended to contact with the wall and hatch opening.

The construction illustrated in Fig. 6, is similar to that of Fig. 3except that the through bolt 9a, which holds the wooden filler strip Ein 4 place, is disposed horizontally instead of vertically. In theconstruction of Fig. 6, the through bolt 9a extends through a hole inthe web la of a relatively shallow channel in the side frame A and ispreferably welded thereto, as at IGi, with its head on the inside of theframe. The filler strip E has a recess Il in its outer face to receivethe nut Ilia that works on the threaded end of the through bolt. In thisconstruction, the padding F is secured as hereinbefore described; but,as it covers the through bolt, the padding must be loosened from thethrough bolt before the wooden filler can be removed from the metalframe. In this modification, the filler strip E' extends outwardlybeyond the margins of the metal frame and thus affords better protectionfor said frame; and the inner margins of said strip are rabbeted, as ati8, along the top and bottom thereof to bring the outer margins of saidstrip flush with the outer horizontal faces of the top and bottomclosure plates D and B. vIn this modification, the ribs 5a of the bottomplate B and the ribs la, of the top plate D are pressed inwardly insteadof outwardly and thus serve as battens to compress the insulation 6 inthe closed chamber C formed by said plates and the edge frame A.

The construction illustrated in Fig. 7 is similar to that shown in Fig.6, except that the cover plates B and D', the edge frame A' and thefiller strip E are all removably secured together by screws I9 that passthrough vertical holes in said plates and the ilanges of said edge frameand are threaded into said ller strip.

In the construction illustrated in Fig. 8, the body of the plugcomprises two main members, namely, a pan-shaped bottom member G and acorrugated top like that shown in Fig. 3. The bottom member G, however,has the side walls formed integral therewith instead of being formedseparately as in Figs. 4, 6 and 7. In the construction of Fig. 8*, thebottom is pressed up from a sheet of metal with upwardly flaring sidewalls 2|] and with horizontal marginal anges 2l at the top thereof.'I'he cover D is secured atwise to the marginal flanges 2l of the bottommember preferably by a continuous edge weld 8a. The chamber between saidbottom member and the top is filled with insulation material as in theother constructions. In the construction of Fig. 8, there is a sectionalwooden filler strip E2 around the sides of the metal frame and thisstrip is held by means of through bolts 9b that extend downwardlythrough the margins of the top member and the marginal flanges of thebottom member and said filler strip, which is held by a nut Ib threadedonto the lower end of said bolt. The padding F is mounted on the outerface of the filler strip as in the other constructions.

The construction illustrated in Figs. 9 and 10 is similar in allrespects to that shown in Fig. 8, except only that metal straps orstrips 22 are welded to the bottom of the metal body G and extendoutwardly underneath the filler blocks E2 with the through ibolts Sbextending through them and with the bolt nuts Ih underneath said straps.Thus the straps serve to more firmly hold the filler blocks in place.

Reference is hereby made to my copending application Serial No. 327,825,filed April 4, 1940, 9

top,vsaid sides having a rim portion of the metal Y extendingoutwardlytherebeyond, strips secured in the angles formed by said sidesand the rim portion thereof, and sealing pads secured to said strips.

2. A hatch plug with metal sides, bottom and top, said sides havingoutwardly flanged portions, nailing strips in the angles formed betweensaid sides and said outwardly flanged portions and detachably secured tosaid anged portions, and sealing pads secured to said nailing strips.

3. A hatch plug comprising a metal side frame with outstanding flangesalong the top and bottom thereof, top and bottom cover plates secured tothe respective top and bottom flanges of said side frame, nailing stripsdetachably secured to said framebetween said top and bottomflanges, andsealing pads secured to said nailing strips.

4. A hatch plug comprising a metal side frame with outstanding top andbottom flanges, top and bottom closure plates for said frame, nailingstrips mounted on said frame between the top and bottom flanges thereof,sealing pads secured to said nailing strips, and means for removablysecuring said nailing strips to said frame.

5. A hatch plug comprising a metal side frame with outstanding top andbottom flanges, top and bottom closure plates for said frame, nailingstrips mounted on said frame between the top and bottom flanges thereof,sealing pads secured to said nailing strips, and means for removablysecuring said nailing strips to said frame, said securing meanscomprising Abolts extending through said top and bottom anges, saidcover plates and said nailing strips.

6. A hatch'plug comprising a metal side frame with outstanding top andbottom flanges, top and bottomV closure plates for said frame, nailingstrips mounted on said frame between the top and bottom flanges thereof,sealing pads secured to said nailing strips, and means for removablysecuring said nailing strips to said frame. said securing meanscomprising screws extending downwardly through said top cover plate andsaid top flanges into said nailing strips and screws extending upwardlythrough said bottom cover plate and said bottom flanges into saidnailing strips.

7. A hatch plug comprising a metal side frame with outstanding top andbottom flanges, top and bottom closure plates for said frame, nailingstrips mounted on said frame between the top and bottom anges thereof,sealing pads secured to said nailing strips, and means for removablysecuring said nailing strip to said frame, said securing meanscomprising bolts extending horizontally through said side frame betweenthe top and bottom flanges thereof and through said nailing strips.

8. A hatch plug comprising a metal side frame and metal top and bottomclosure plates therefor, said frame having an outwardly opening channelextending around the outer side face thereof, a nailing strip removablymounted in said channel, said nailing strip comprising side and cornersections, and a sealing pad secured to the outer face of said nailingstrip.

9. A hatch plug comprising a metal side frame with walls ofchannel-shaped section with its flanges turned outwardly at top andbottom thereof, a bottom secured to said metal frame, a top secured tosaid metal frame, nailing blocks mounted in the side frame channels andremovable therefrom without disturbing the top or bottom, and sealingpads secured at top and b ottom to said nailing blocks.

10. A hatch plug comprising a metal side frame with walls ofchannel-shaped section with its fianges turned outwardly at top andbottom thereof, a corrugated metal bottom secured to said metal frame, acorrugated metal top secured to said metal frame, wooden nailing blocksmounted in the side frame channels and removable therefrom withoutdisturbing the top or bottom, and sealing pads secured at top and bottomto said nailing blocks.

11. A hatch plug comprising sides, bottom and.

top constituting a hollow chamber and insulating material in saidchamber, said side wallshaving an outwardly opening horizontal channel,nailing strips detachably mounted in said channel and padding secured tothe outer faces of said nailing strips.

l2. A hatch plug comprising sides, bottom and top constituting a hollowchamber and insulating material in said chamber, said sides consistingof channel-shaped metal with its flanges turned outwardly at top andbottom thereof, wooden blocks mounted in the side channels, and paddingsecured to said wooden blocks.

13. A hatch plug comprising a metal edge frame with outwardly extendingtop and bottom flanges and top and bottom cover plates permanentlysecured flatwise to the respective top and bottom anges, a nailing stripdetachably mounted in said edge frame between the tcp and bottom flangesthereof, and padding secured to the outer face of said nailing strip.

CHARLES DAVID BONSALL.

